| Bonnie Prater Two To Tango Ballroom Dancing on the Central Oregon Coast |
| East Coast Swing |
| These are notes to be used in conjunction with classes. They are reminders or memory joggers, rather than comprehensive instruction. By themselves they would probably just confuse the reader. Timing & Footwork Single Time - Quick Quick Slow Slow - Rock, Step, Step, Step Leader - Left (back), Right (replace), Left (side left), Right (side right) Follower - Right (back), Left (replace), Right (side right), Left (side left) Triple Time - Quick Quick Quick a Quick Quick a Quick - Rock, Step, Tri-ple Step Tri-ple Step Leader - Left (back), Right (replace), Left-Right-Left (leftwards) Right-Left-Right (rightwards) Follower - Right (back), Left (replace), Right-Left-Right (rightwards), Left-Right-Left (leftwards) Musical counts One Basic pattern Quick Quick Slow Slow used 6 beats of music One Lindy Timing pattern Quick Quick Slow Quick Quick Slow used 8 beats of music Basic Lead and Follow Lead cues - in the basic patterns of simple underarm turns the lead action will happen on the 2nd quick beat of the pattern Quick Quick Slow Slow. Rock Step Step Step can also be thought of as Rock LEAD Step Step with the lead happening as the leader takes the 2nd quick step The leader should become comfortable swivelling on his left foot on the first Slow count. Follow cues - The lead to change directions happens immediately after the backward rock step. As you come forward on the second quick step a forward or directional movement is cued by the lead. The follow initiates movement immediately in the direction of the lead. At the beginning level of swing the follows right arm is usually being led. The follows right foot should, in most cases, follow the right arm and step under the right hand. The follows will usually be swivelling on the right foot on the first Slow count turning either right or left as directed by the lead. Basic Patterns Open Basic - partners face each other and mirror steps Follows Underarm Turn to right or left - lead raises leading arm to left or right to lead the follow's underarm turn. The turn happens on the first Slow (beats 3-4) The lead for a left turn is the hand moving past the leaders right shoulder. The lead for the right turn is out to the leaders left side. Leaders Left Turns - a series of related turns where the leader turns to the left and the follow walks around the leaders back. Leaders Left Underarm Turn - The leader raises the partnership handhold without leading the lady forward and walks under the arms to the left. The follow walks around behind the leader. Neck Wrap - The leader raises the partnership handhold to his right neck as he turns to the left and places the follows hand on his neck. He lets go of the hold while he turns. The follows hand drags lightly across the leaders back and down his arm as she steps around behind and he turns. A handhold is re-established as the partners face each other again. Waist Wrap - As the leader turns left he raises his right arm and shoots it across his body leftward as his left hand places the follows right hand on his right side and lets go. As he continues to turn left the follow steps around behind him, lightly dragging her hand around the waist and down his arm. A handhold is re-established as the partners face each other again. Hand Change Behind the Back - A variation of the leaders left turn. As the leader turns left he places the follows hand in his right hand. He moves his left arm behind and picks up the follows hand again in his left hand as he continues to turn to face her. The follows steps around the back of the leader as in the other left turns. |